Her Story of Success

Latest Episodes:

Investing in Yourself to Impact Others: Ginger Jones Sep 02, 2019

Show notes

Ginger Jones developed her passion for helping others at a young age. Growing up with two deaf parents, she saw firsthand how valuable speech pathology and other therapy services could be for individuals with special needs. After working as a speech pathologist, Ginger decided to further her impact by starting her own company, Jones Therapy Services. Today, that company includes nine locations that offer a wide range of pediatric therapy services.

As founder and CEO of Jones Therapy, Ginger gets to help change lives every day, but she hasn't stopped there. She also runs her own consulting service, speaks about her experiences and writes about parenting, business and therapy on her blog. Ginger has been recognized for her work with honors like Nashville's "40 under 40" and Enterprising Women's 2018 Woman of the Year Champion. Most recently, she was named a Woman of Influence in Nashville by the Nashville Business Journal. Through all of her experiences, Ginger has learned the importance of investing in yourself, whether that's through coaching, self-care or finding meaningful work at a company you love.

In this episode, Ginger explains how her desire to change the world more quickly inspired her to start her own clinic (4:40), and she shares the challenges of building a company in the midst of an unexpected pregnancy (7:04). The stressful nature of Ginger's job made it clear to her that she needed to start investing in herself, and through that she learned to shift her mindset, re-framing fear and anxiety by focusing on the exciting opportunities in front of her (11:11). Ginger also breaks down the difference between mentors and coaches and describes the impact her coaches have had on her career and personal life (16:11).

Ginger's commitment to personal development has helped her become an incredible leader at Jones Therapy Services and beyond, and she gives listeners advice about learning to delegate, trusting your team and not taking things so personally in a business environment (21:41). She also addresses the very real issue of burnout (31:56) and emphasizes the importance of loving both the work you do and the environment you do it in (35:41).

Ginger views success as the ability to do the work she believes she was meant to do, and she's passionate about doing that in a way that sets an example for her two young sons (48:29). A living example of what you can accomplish when you take the time to ask for help and focus on your own growth, Ginger provides so much practical advice and inspiration in this episode.

Creating a Legacy to Empower Others: Sharon W. Reynolds Aug 19, 2019

Show notes

From making clothes for 30 customers when she was a senior in high school to founding four successful companies, Sharon W. Reynolds' whole life is a testament to the power of hard work and not taking no for an answer. Today, Sharon runs four companies: DevMar Products, DevMar Global Healthcare Solutions, DevMar Manufacturing, and Bryla J Couture Clothiers. In everything she does, Sharon is driven by a passion to help others, whether that's through her companies, community service or her work to empower other women business owners.

Each of Sharon's companies is devoted to making the world a better place in its own way, from creating environmentally-friendly janitorial products to providing breast milk for premature babies in the NICU to empowering women with fashion that's for a purpose. She also serves on boards of directors such as Second Harvest Food Bank, the West End Home Foundation and Women's Business Enterprise National Council South. Sharon has received many honors and awards for her incredible work, including the WBENC 2019 Women Business Enterprise Star, the 100 Black Men and Women Presidents Organization Women of Color Achievement Award and the Power Moves Best Entrepreneur of the Year. Sharon has so much to offer other women through the lessons she's learned about business, service and finding success.

In This Episode: Sharon shares her inspiring story of entrepreneurship she learned from her family and expanding that into the four companies she runs today (3:11). She explains why serving the community has always been important to her and how the difficulties she faced when she was younger motivate her to help others (13:32). Today, Sharon is most passionate about empowering other women in business, which she does through organizations like Women's Business Enterprise National Council and Enterprising Women (18:28).

Though all of these things keep her incredibly busy, Sharon has learned to take time for herself without feeling guilty, and she encourages other women to do the same, whether that's through getting enough sleep or through taking a day off to go to a spa (27:31). She also shares her sources of inspiration, including books that have changed her outlook and mentors like her Aunt Gloria and Oprah (33:16).

As she enters a new season of life, Sharon believes success is about more than just doing great things, it's about empowering others to get to the next level, too (38:52). Her passion for helping other women is such a powerful demonstration of how a combination of achievement and service can change the world.

Lawyer turned Moonshiner: Jessi Baker Aug 05, 2019

Show notes

When Jessi Baker opened a moonshine business with her husband Joe and two of their friends, she never expected it to grow into a nationwide phenomenon. But almost 10 years later, Ole Smoky is the most visited distillery in the world, and its moonshine is sold in all 50 states and 53 countries. After leaving her career as an attorney, Jessi has found her passion in developing Ole Smoky food products, and she recently released a cookbook called Shining: Ole Smoky Moonshine Family Cookbook, which features delicious cocktails and family recipes for true Southern food.

Jessi and her family didn't stop with Ole Smoky, going on to open businesses like Bootleggers Homemade Wine and Yee Haw Brewing. Most recently, Ole Smoky opened its fourth distillery in Nashville, which features tastings, food and live entertainment. Though growth has not always been easy, Jessi has seen the rewards for her family and community, and she loves getting to carry on her family's legacy of entrepreneurship and tourism.

In this episode, Jessi explains how Ole Smoky grew from a side hustle rooted in her in-laws' tradition of making moonshine into a successful company with over 500 employees (7:06). She describes growing up surrounded by tourism and learning entrepreneurship from her grandmother, who ran Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen (16:12). As a mother and an entrepreneur, Jessi knows how difficult it can be to design a life that brings those two worlds together, and she opens up about what it's like to be in business with her husband and show her kids the value of hard work (21:47). Jessi also bravely shares the story of how her grieving process after a miscarriage led her to create the Ole Smoky cookbook, and she offers advice for learning to feel strong again after a difficult loss (22:57).

Though she knows some people think Ole Smokey's success came easily, Jessi gets real about the struggle that goes into expanding a business, and she offers advice for how to know when it's the right time to grow (33:35). She explains how the rewards of bringing growth and joy to her community and family have made it all worth it, and describes how those things have become the markers by which she now views success (39:20).

As a special gift for Her Story of Success listeners, Jessi also shares a recipe for one of the cocktails from her new cookbook, the Beer Shinearita (28:16):

Ingredients

1 can frozen limeade
1 cup Ole Smoky Original Corn Moonshine
1/2 cup Ole Smoky Margarita Moonshine
1 cup water
1 Yeehaw Cerveza
Lime Juice

Instructions

Stir limeade, moonshine and water together in a pitcher until the frozen limeade dissolves
Add in beer and lime juice
Pour over ice and serve with a lime wedge

To find more delicious recipes like the ones Jessi and Leah talk about, check out Ole Smoky's website or order Jessi's cookbook.

Purpose, Passion, & Perseverance: Mixtroz Jul 22, 2019

Show notes

In 2014, mother/daughter duo Kerry Schrader and Ashlee Ammons realized there was something ineffective about the way we network at events. Out of their frustrations, the pair came up with the idea for Mixtroz, a highly customizable tool for that increases attendee engagement and collects data for event hosts and sponsors. In less than five years, Mixtroz has revolutionized the way companies and individuals approach & execute networking at events.

Because of Mixtroz, Ashlee and Kerry were invited to join Alabama's prestigious Velocity Accelerator, won the Birmingham Rise of the Rest pitch competition led by AOL Co-Founder Steve Case, and even starred in an episode of A+E's "Rooster and Butch." In 2018, Ashlee and Kerry became just the 37th and 38th black women to ever close a million dollar round of funding. The company has also been featured by Forbes, Inc., The New York Times, Business Insider and more.

In this episode, Kerry and Ashlee break down how Mixtroz works, where it is today and where they hope it's going (3:25). Since people often tend to focus on their mother-daughter relationship, they explain how they've made their partnership work and how having family in your business can be a helpful asset (10:12). Though they recognize that entrepreneurship tends to be a sport for the elite — a fact which they see as a major problem — they also know what it's like to have to live off of your savings while trying to grow a business, and they share some relatable stories about making financial sacrifices along the way (12:10).

Before starting Mixtroz, Kerry and Ashlee both built successful careers that they then left behind to start their company (18:00). Ashlee shares how her mom went from working at McDonald's to doing HR for large companies, and she describes how growing up with a hardworking mom shaped her own life in significant ways (24:23). The pair also offers practical advice about how they make time to give back to the community and still live life fully outside of Mixtroz (46:03). Ashlee and Kerry have both had their share of difficulties since starting their company, and they open up about dealing with depression, learning to avoid comparison and battling breast cancer all while building a business (50:48).

Amplifying Messages that Matter: Two|PR Jul 08, 2019

Show notes

When looking for a new challenge Morgan Canclini-Mitchell took a leap of faith at 28 and started Two|PR, a publicity and marketing firm that has worked with best-selling authors, professional athletes and Grammy award-winning artists. After working on a mutual client with marketing consultant Kristin Carver-Smith, Morgan asked Kristin to come on as Two|PRr's marketing principle.

Since then, the company has seen enormous success, building an impressive roster and earning bookings with CNN, Fox & Friends, Forbes, PBS and more. With Morgan and Kristin's combined marketing and publicity experience, they've been able to develop great relationships with reporters and clients alike, and they do it all without even having to advertise other than by word of mouth.

In this episode, Morgan shares her story of building a company at such a young age (2:48), including how she decided to bring Kristin in because of her complementary strengths (8:13). The pair describes the difference between public relations and marketing (13:25) and offers advice for how to know that it's time to hire a PR firm (22:14).

Since they first started out in the industry, Morgan and Kristin have both learned a lot about how to prioritize their spouses and take time away from work, even when it feels like they always have to be available to clients (38:09). They talk about practical tips for doing this, like choosing clients who share their values and only checking their emails at certain times on vacation. All of this stems from their evolving definitions of success, which are now less about working with the most famous people and more about having freedom to work in the way they want with people they believe in (54:56).

Making a Difference Through Passion & Creativity: Milkglass Creative Jun 24, 2019

Show notes

When Mary Hooper and Amy Stroup were looking for alternatives to the traditional career path in each of their fields, they decided to take their friendship to the next level by going into business together. The result, Milkglass Creative, is a unique blend of a design company and an independent record label, which works with everything from recording artists to authors to lifestyle brands. Since it started in 2010, Milkglass has evolved as Amy and Mary have learned to lean into their individual strengths and be open to new changes and experiences. They both keep busy doing creative work in their respective fields, with Mary running the art and design side of the company and Amy heading up the record label while also pursuing her own music career.

Because Milkglass is a values-driven company, Mary and Amy are also intentional about giving back to the community around them, both through volunteering at Y-CAP and by mentoring younger women in their fields. They've learned important lessons along the way about taking time for themselves and only taking on clients that spark their creativity and passion.

In this episode, Amy and Mary explain how they transitioned from being friends to working as business partners, starting Milkglass so they could both have space to be creative and work for themselves (2:41). One of Milkglass' biggest assets today is the founders' ability to take on clients who respect their vision, functioning as a truly creative entity and not a "Band-Aid company" (13:24), and Mary and Amy explain how passion and a strong value system make that possible.

Since creativity is part of the job description at Milkglass, Amy and Mary also talk about how they've made space to allow themselves to be creative and avoid burnout (22:16), all while being intentional about investing in their own identities and lives apart from the company (26:55). This has allowed them to each finds a tribe of friends and supporters (30:49) and develop their own personal definitions of success, which center around personal fulfillment and wholeness (44:34). Mary and Amy exemplify the magic that happens when you create

Laquita Stribling: Opening Doors for Others Jun 10, 2019

Show notes

Laquita Stribling knows the value of engaging in a wide variety of experiences. She works as senior vice president for Randstad USA, the number one staffing company in the world, and serves as a district governor for Rotary International in Tennessee. Laquita does all of this on top of being a mom, an active member of her community, a mentor, and a lifelong learner. In all of those roles, she strives to be a leader who opens doors for others.

Professionally, Laquita worked her way up over 22 years at Randstad, where she started as an entry level associate. She accomplished this by always being willing to tackle new challenges. That same attitude led her to engage with Rotary, starting out as a young woman in a club that was mostly made up of older white men. Rising to become the first African American district governor, she now uses her position to create greater diversity within the organization.

In this episode:

In this episode, Laquita explains why she decided to stay at Randstad for so many years and how having a supportive boss has made a huge difference in her career (3:32). She also encourages listeners to be lifelong learners, a value which she learned from her family at a young age (6:56). As an experienced mentor, Laquita offers practical advice for finding a mentor or a mentee, saying no to opportunities that aren't right for you, and getting the most out of your mentoring relationships (15:02). As she describes her experience with Rotary Club (21:40), Laquita also encourages listeners, especially women, to become more comfortable with being uncomfortable, a skill which she believes is essential for networking and finding new opportunities (32:42).

To close out the episode, Laquita talks about how she defines leadership and success (37:58). In both areas, she focuses primarily on how she can use her own skills, abilities and experiences to help others succeed. Whether it's at her company, in her community or through raising her kids, Laquita embodies this type of servant leadership in everything she does.

Creating Work-Life Blend: Courtney Jones May 27, 2019

Show notes

As a mom of two kids, Courtney Jones started MomSource Network to help other women find opportunities she felt like she didn't have when her son was born. Courtney is passionate about helping other women find a healthy work-life blend, and she knows that looks different for everyone. Whether you're planning to become moms, looking to shift your work schedules to spend time with your kids or want help re-entering the workforce after a career break, MomSource Network helps women find flexible work options that fit with their schedules and their personal ideas of fulfillment.

Since its launch in 2013, MomSource Network has grown to include 10,000 women in 48 states. The company also partners with progressive organizations who want to find the best talent and helps them to create flexible work options for potential employees. Because of her work, Courtney has been featured by CNN, Bloomberg, Working Mother and more.

In this episode:

In this episode, Courtney explains how she recognized the amount of talent that was being wasted because women didn't want to work full time and also be a mom (3:34), and how she started MomSource Network to help solve this problem (6:26). She offers practical advice about finding organizations that might be willing to give you flexibility in your work (8:20). While describing her personal philosophy of striving for "work-life blend" instead of balance, Courtney encourages listeners to accept the fact that different chapters of life will have different focuses, and she suggests that everything doesn't have to be perfectly balanced all the time (18:25).

Courtney also outlines five different options for working other than the traditional 9-to-5 job (31:16). She ends the episode by offering helpful tips for finding flexible work options (51:30). But if you're looking for more help, or if you're curious about how to start providing flexible work options at your company, check out http://momsourcenetwork.com for more information!

Receptionist to CEO: Sabrina Cowden May 13, 2019

Show notes

As CEO of Milepost Consulting, a sustainability-focused strategy and engagement firm, Sabrina Cowden exemplifies leadership and the value of finding a career you're passionate about. While her path was not easy Sabrina shares how starting out her career as a receptionist at a computer software company that had great leadership and a culture of learning, she was able to take a seven-year career break to raise her kids, and still come back confident in herself and abilities.

When it was time to return to work and after turning down many jobs Sabrina settled on a temporary position that ended up lasting for six years. She eventually got her MBA and rose to the rank of CEO.

In this episode Sabrina explains the lessons she learned at her first job out of college that shaped the rest of her professional life (4:20). From creating a space where people can feel safe to fail (8:19) to finding good mentors (12:46), Sabrina unpacks helpful advice, both for leaders and for those who are just getting started in their careers.

Sabrina also points out that the lessons she learned during her career break were just as valuable as the ones she learned at work, and she describes the process of reentering the workforce with the goal of finding a job she was passionate about (31:11). Her success in doing this banked on Sabrina's courage and ability to bet on herself even when it seemed risky or uncertain, and in the process, Sabrina realized she was capable of becoming a great leader (35:13).

Sabrina encourages other women to explore many different opportunities without feeling guilty, and she highlights the importance of being able to take responsibility for your own professional growth.

Finding Your Passion with Sarah Scarborough Apr 30, 2019

Show notes

Sarah Scarborough CEO of Firepot Nomadic Teas took the path less traveled to becoming the successful business owner she is today.

Spending summers off the grid and living on the land with her family in Finland led her to realize that when all of her friends were buying suites and going on interviews in college, she just wanted to be somewhere farming. This led her on a journey across the world and introduced her to a passion for practicing and sharing the ritual of tea.

In this episode Sarah shares how her aversion to being a "business person" led her on a journey of finding her purpose, confidence, and how she realized being successful in business can help you make an impact in the world.

Sarah shares how following her passion for fair trade and sustainable farming led her to tea and across the world from Nashville to Montana to California and New Zealand. Sarah believes incorporating a rituals such as tea, yoga, or medication can help you make the room in your life to realize what you love and the next steps needed to make it happen.

You can check out her teas, Sunday tea ritual and her passion for Women and Wildlife.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected